Improvement in latches for gates



w. u. SKIDMURE.

Latchv for Gates, &c.

N0.162,702. PaLented Apri|27,1875

Fig.2

Hines es. inventor.

' I i me TH E GRAPHIC C0. PHOTO -UTH.39 8; 41 PARK PLAOEJfiY- gate or door.

UNITED STATES A'IENT FFICE,

WILLIAM D. SKIDMORE, on MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LATCHES FOR GATES, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 162,702, dated April 27, 1875; application filed April 9, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. SKIDMORE,

' gates and doors, and has for its object to insure locking when the gate is violently or suddenly shut, as well as easily, and, furthermore, to admit of shutting the gate from either direction.

My invention consists in abifurcated latchbar, in conjunction with a catch, one surface of which is inclined in opposite directions, and provided with a. locking-recess, while the other surface is provided with a protuberance opposite to the recess, whereby, when the bifurcated bar and catch are affixed to a gate and its post with proper relation to each other, and the gate is shot from either direction, one branch of the bifurcated latch-bar slides on the inclined surface of the catch, till the other branch is tripped by its protu erance, whereupon the former is thrown into the recess, and by this means the gate is locked.

In the drawing, the letter A designates my latch-bar, which is bifurcated at one end, and at the other end is formed into a handle, as shown. The latch-bar is provided with an aperture, through which passes a pivot, 64, by means of which the bar may be affixed to a In this example I have shown the latch-bar applied to a gate, which is designated by the letter B. G designates my catch, which is made with a supporting-plate, b, whereby it is fastened to one of the gate'posts 1). The upper surface of the catch 0 is inclined in opposite directions, as shown at d d, Fig. 3, the inclinations being downward and outward, and it is made with a recess, 0, which intercepts the two inclinations. Opposite, or nearly so, to the recess 6, on the under surface of the catch, is formed a protuberance or ridge, 0. The catch 0, in being affixed to the gate-post, is placed opposite, or nearly so, to the latch-bar A of the gate, so that when the gate is shut, one or the top branch of the latch-bar rides on the inclined surface of the catch, till such branch reaches the point of the recess 0, when the lower branch is tripped by the protuberance c, and by this means the top branch is thrown into the recess. By inclining the catch 0 in opposite directions it is adapted to intercept the latch-bar, together with the gate from either direct-ion.

In order to admit of a movement of the gate in opposite directions, I use therewith a hingejoint, E, of the hook-and-eye pattern, which is affixed to the upper part of the gate and to the approximate post 1). The hookf of this hinge is provided with a return bend, in order to prevent lifting of the gate off the hinge. To the lower part of the gate and post, respectively, are secured toothed pieces F, one or both of which is a segment of a circle, and the teeth of which parts engage with each other when the gate is opened or shut. The pieces F admit of the proper movement of the gate, while they possess the necessary stability to prevent dislodgment.

It is obvious that I can use any other form ofjoint for the gate instead of the one here described.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A gate-fastening constructed of the bifurcated latch-bar A, in combination with a catch, 0, having the inclined surfaces 61 0?, recess e, and protuberance c, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of April, 1875.

\VM. D. SKIDMORE.

Witnesses W. HAUFF, E. F. KAsTENHUnER. 

